First Mapping

Butters has NONE of his ears in because he made a mad dash to the kitchen in an effort to avoid bed time

Just a little update - We had our first mapping of Butters' implant yesterday so we have four new, fine-tuned programs.  He sailed through the first four in two weeks with no issues, now he is on program five and we will just have to see how he does with the next three.  They specifically made changes to the low frequencies since he is still having problems with that "MMMMM" sound.  This is the one sound that he has always had problems with.  

He is bimodal now wearing his one implant and his one hearing aid in his left ear.  I had some reservations over this, but after talking with our A/V therapists and audiologist, we decided to at least let him go bimodal for at least half of the day.  They think he needs to have a few hours wearing just his implant so that he can get used to hearing with his new implant.  I do think it is important to keep stimulating that left ear, however, so he is still wearing his hearing aid a lot as well.  I am also hoping that this will make it easier for him to make the transition to the other implant when it's time for the other surgery.

And about that...   we already have people asking us when we are going to set the next surgery.  Our ENT (who is wonderful, btw) told me last week he is ready at any time.  Our therapists and audiologists have said that he will probably be ready by the summer and certainly by the end of the year.  That's what I'm aiming for since I think he will be ready as well.  Not to mention that I really don't want to wait any longer than we have to.  Add to the fact that we are a military family and the sands in that hour glass have nearly poured all the way down to the very bottom.  I know that there are fabulous surgeons and implant centers all over the country.  But let's face it, when you have found a surgeon and center you truly trust you do not want to part with them.  Butters needs to have his second surgery  here in NC.  

And what about reactions?  He is a funny little fellow.  In more ways than one.  Yesterday, he got that "What is going on?" look on his face during the reconfiguration.  At home, whenever I move up to a new program every few days, he gets that thoughtful look for a fleeting couple of minutes and then he goes about his business like it's no big deal.  I was a little worried, but after talking to the audiologist, she said that it was a good thing.  You basically don't want a kid to freak out and reject his implant.    

Meanwhile, I am already gathering information and planning for the second surgery.  In addition to pushing as much language into Butters' brain as possible.  I think he is starting to tune me out.